Record-breaker Zagitova stuns Medvedeva in Olympic short programme

GANGNEUNG: Russian teenager Alina Zagitova produced a spellbinding, world-record short programme on Wednesday to overshadow Olympic rival and compatriot Evgenia Medvedeva.

The 15-year-old starlet from the Western Urals seduced the judges with her flawless routine to Black Swan, earning 82.92 points to lead the competition.

Zagitova shaded double world champion Medvedeva, 18, who just minutes earlier had broken the record she had set last week in the team event with a score of 81.61.

The two skaters are set to fight it out for what could be the first gold of the Games for



the Olympic Athletes from Russia - who are competing as neutrals, after Russia were banned for doping.

Placed third after the short programme is Canadian Kaetlyn Osmond on 78.87, with Japan's Satoko Miyahara in fourth.

Zagitova has swept all before her in her first senior season, arriving in South Korea unbeaten in her four competitions, culminating in depriving Medvedeva of her European title in Moscow last month.

Medvedeva holds the world record for the free dance and combined, but the Muscovite knows she will have a herculean fight on her hands to deny Zagitova.